Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Devouring Flame by E.J. Russell

Devouring Flame (Dreamspun Beyond Book 35)

"Although this book touches on darker themes of slavery, trafficking and employer abuse via the intriguing fantasy world it's set in, I found it to be an engaging read. The characters are very well drawn and the dynamic between them was great. The secondary characters fitted perfectly into the story, I thought the author really conjured up the misery of the carnival and the people who unfortunately worked there. The development of the MCs relationship was very believable – I really came to care about them - and it didn't matter that I hadn't read book 1."

An Enchanted Occasions Story

Reunited and reignited.

While cutting through the Interstices—the post-creation gap between realms—Smith, half-demon tech specialist for Enchanted Occasions Event Planning, spies the person he yearns for daily but dreads seeing again: the ifrit, Hashim of the Windrider clan.

On their one literally smoldering night together, Smith, stupidly besotted, revealed his true name—a demon’s greatest vulnerability. When Hashim didn’t return the favor, then split the next morning with no word? Message received, loud and clear: Thanks but no, thanks.

Although Hashim had burned to return Smith’s trust, it was impossible. The wizard who conjured him holds his true name in secret, and unless Hashim discovers it, he’ll never be free.

When their attraction sparks once more, the two unite to search for Hashim’s hidden name—which would be a hell of a lot easier if they didn’t have to contend with a convention full of food-crazed vampires on the one day out of the century they can consume something other than blood.

But if they fail, Hashim will be doomed to eternal slavery, and their reignited love will collapse in the ashes.

Luckily Smith is the guy who gets shit done. And Hashim is never afraid to heat things up.

Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Mercury by Arshad Ahsanuddin

Mercury (The Interscission Project Book 4)

"The world Arshad Ahsanuddin has created for his characters to interact in is complex and vivid. I was completely immersed in the customs, politics and different locations - superb world-building. The plot is intricate, a real page-turner with several surprises along the way. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment. I do think the book suffers slightly from being so complex so I would recommend re-reading book 3 first."

Death comes for us all.
But sometimes it comes early, because it’s sent.

Everything seems to be going great in Christopher’s world. Newly married and promoted, he’s even hammered out the dents in his relationship with his brother Marley.
Then a death in the family shakes the foundations of his world. When the word comes down that it was murder, then only the best forensic investigator of the Chiron Defense Force will do to assist the Travellers in finding the culprit. And that happens to be Marley.
When the investigation begins to lead to one of their own, however, the question changes: was it murder, or treason?